Dowding Ministry
Encyclopedia
The Dowding Ministry was the 30th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia
, and was led by Labor
Premier Peter Dowding
and his deputy, David Parker
. It succeeded the Burke Ministry
on 25 February 1988, upon the retirement of Brian Burke
from politics on the fifth anniversary of his becoming Premier.
The Ministry was reconstituted on 28 February 1989 following the 1989 election
, due in part to the defeat of one minister, Barry Hodge (MLA for Melville
), and the Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet, John Read (MLA for Mandurah
), by opposition Liberal
candidates.
The second term of the Ministry was a particularly difficult one due to ongoing revelations relating to the government's past dealings with relation to WA Inc
, and with a federal election approaching, considerable pressure was being exerted on the State Government. On 7 February 1990, a majority of the 47-member Labor caucus signed an open letter calling on Dowding to step down, and in a caucus meeting on 12 February 1990, Dowding and Parker resigned. The Ministry was succeeded six days later by the Lawrence Ministry
led by the Minister for Education and Aboriginal Affairs, Dr Carmen Lawrence
, and her deputy, Ian Taylor
.
, designated 17 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43(2) of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899. The following ministers were then appointed to the positions, and served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 28 February 1989.
The members of the First Dowding Ministry were:
, reconstituted the Ministry. He designated 17 principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to the positions, who served until the Lawrence Ministry
was established on 19 February 1990.
On 12 February 1990, Premier Peter Dowding
resigned all of his ministerial portfolios, being replaced in them temporarily by Carmen Lawrence
, who retained Education and Aboriginal Affairs. Deputy Premier David Parker
resigned purely as Deputy Premier, retaining the Treasury, Resources Development and the Arts; Ian Taylor
became Deputy Premier and retained Police and Emergency Services, Conservation and Land Management and Waterways.
The members of the Ministry were:
Government of Western Australia
The formation of the Government of Western Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1890, although it has been amended many times since then...
, and was led by Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
Premier Peter Dowding
Peter Dowding
Peter McCallum Dowding SC was the 24th Premier of Western Australia, serving from 25 February 1988 until his resignation on 12 February 1990 after an internal party dispute....
and his deputy, David Parker
David Parker (Australian politician)
David Charles Parker was an Australian politician from Western Australia, serving as a minister in the Burke Ministry , then as Deputy Premier in the Dowding Ministry...
. It succeeded the Burke Ministry
Burke Ministry (Western Australia)
The Burke Ministry was the 29th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, led by Labor Premier Brian Burke and deputy Mal Bryce. It commenced on 25 February 1983, six days after the O'Connor ministry, led by Premier Ray O'Connor of the Liberal Party, was defeated at the 1983 election...
on 25 February 1988, upon the retirement of Brian Burke
Brian Burke
Brian Thomas Burke was Labor premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988...
from politics on the fifth anniversary of his becoming Premier.
The Ministry was reconstituted on 28 February 1989 following the 1989 election
Western Australian state election, 1989
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 4 February 1989 to elect all 57 members to the Legislative Assembly and all 34 members to the Legislative Council...
, due in part to the defeat of one minister, Barry Hodge (MLA for Melville
Electoral district of Melville
Melville was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1950 to 1996.The district was based in the southern suburbs of Perth, and in the main roughly corresponds today to the district of Willagee and parts of Alfred Cove.-History:First...
), and the Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet, John Read (MLA for Mandurah
Electoral district of Mandurah
-External links:* ABC Election Profiles: * WAEC District Maps:...
), by opposition Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
candidates.
The second term of the Ministry was a particularly difficult one due to ongoing revelations relating to the government's past dealings with relation to WA Inc
WA Inc
WA Inc was a political scandal in Western Australia. In the 1980s, the state government, which was led for much of the period by premier Brian Burke, engaged in business dealings with several prominent businessmen, including Alan Bond, Laurie Connell and Warren Anderson...
, and with a federal election approaching, considerable pressure was being exerted on the State Government. On 7 February 1990, a majority of the 47-member Labor caucus signed an open letter calling on Dowding to step down, and in a caucus meeting on 12 February 1990, Dowding and Parker resigned. The Ministry was succeeded six days later by the Lawrence Ministry
Lawrence Ministry
The Lawrence Ministry was the 31st Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, and was led by Labor Premier Dr Carmen Lawrence and her deputy Ian Taylor. It succeeded the Dowding Ministry on 18 February 1990, following the resignation of Peter Dowding six days earlier following an open letter...
led by the Minister for Education and Aboriginal Affairs, Dr Carmen Lawrence
Carmen Lawrence
Carmen Mary Lawrence is a retired Australian politician; a former Premier of Western Australia and the first woman to become Premier of a State of the Commonwealth of Australia....
, and her deputy, Ian Taylor
Ian Taylor (Australian politician)
Ian Taylor is a former Australian politician and Western Australian Deputy Premier and Opposition Leader.Taylor was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly in 1981 as the Labor member for Kalgoorlie. In 1986 he was appointed Minister for Health and also held the Aged Care, Lands and...
.
First Ministry
On 25 February 1988, the Governor, Gordon ReidGordon Reid (Governor)
Gordon Stanley Reid AC was an Australian academic who was Governor of Western Australia from 1984 to 1989....
, designated 17 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43(2) of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899. The following ministers were then appointed to the positions, and served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 28 February 1989.
The members of the First Dowding Ministry were:
| Office | Minister |
|---|---|
Premier Premier of Western Australia The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions... and Treasurer Treasurer of Western Australia The Treasurer of the State of Western Australia is the title held by the Cabinet Minister who is responsible for the management of Western Australia's public sector finances, and for preparing and delivering the annual State Budget... Minister for Productivity Minister for Public Sector Management Minister for Women's Interests |
Peter Dowding Peter Dowding Peter McCallum Dowding SC was the 24th Premier of Western Australia, serving from 25 February 1988 until his resignation on 12 February 1990 after an internal party dispute.... , LL.B. Bachelor of Laws The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree... , MLA |
Deputy Premier Deputy Premier of Western Australia The Deputy Premier of Western Australia is a role in the Government of Western Australia assigned to a responsible Minister in the Australian state of Western Australia. It has second ranking behind the Premier of Western Australia in Cabinet, and its holder serves as Acting Premier during absence... Minister for Economic Development and Trade |
David Parker David Parker (Australian politician) David Charles Parker was an Australian politician from Western Australia, serving as a minister in the Burke Ministry , then as Deputy Premier in the Dowding Ministry... , BA Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both... , JP Justice of the Peace A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions... , MLA |
Attorney-General Attorney-General of Western Australia The Attorney-General of Western Australia is the member of the Government of Western Australia responsible for maintenance and improvement of Western Australia's system of law and justice. Before the advent of representative government in 1870, the title was Advocate-General of Western Australia... Minister for Budget Management Minister for Corrective Services Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council |
Joe Berinson Joe Berinson Joseph Max "Joe" Berinson is a former Labor member of the Australian House of Representatives from the 1969 election until his defeat by Ross McLean at the 1975 election, representing the division of Perth, Western Australia... , LL.B., QC Queen's Counsel Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law... , MLC |
Minister for Community Services Minister for the Family Minister for Youth Minister for the Aged Minister assisting the Minister for Women's Interests Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council |
Kay Hallahan Kay Hallahan Elsie Kay Hallahan , commonly known as Kay Hallahan, is an Australian politician. A member of the Labor Party, she served as a minister in the Burke, Dowding and Lawrence ministries in Western Australia, and was the first woman ever to sit in both the Western Australian Legislative Assembly and the... , BSW Social work Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or... , JP, MLC |
Minister for Mines Minister for Local Government Minister for Regional Development |
Jeff Carr, BA, JP, MLA |
Minister for Transport Minister for Planning Minister for Parliamentary and Electoral Reform Minister for Intergovernmental Relations Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly |
Bob Pearce Bob Pearce Robert John Pearce was an Australian politician, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1977 until 1993 representing the seats of Gosnells and Armadale.-Biography:... , BA, DipEd, JP, MLA |
Minister for the Environment Minister for Conservation and Land Management Minister for Waterways |
Barry Hodge, MLA |
Minister for Agriculture Minister for the South-West Minister for Fisheries Minister assisting the Minister for Economic Development and Trade |
Julian Grill Julian Grill Julian Fletcher Grill is a former member of the Australian Labor Party and Member of the Parliament of Western Australia as the Member for Eyre.... , LL.B., JP, MLA |
| Minister for Health | Rev Keith Wilson, MLA |
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Minister assisting the Treasurer |
Ian Taylor Ian Taylor (Australian politician) Ian Taylor is a former Australian politician and Western Australian Deputy Premier and Opposition Leader.Taylor was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly in 1981 as the Labor member for Kalgoorlie. In 1986 he was appointed Minister for Health and also held the Aged Care, Lands and... , B.Econ (Hons), JP, MLA |
Minister for Housing Minister for Tourism Minister for Racing and Gaming |
Pam Beggs, JP, MLA |
Minister for Labour Minister for Works and Services Minister assisting the Minister for Productivity and Public Sector Management |
Gavan Troy, B Bus, FAIM, JP, MLA |
Minister for Water Resources Minister for Small Business Minister for the North-West Minister for Aboriginal Affairs |
Ernie Bridge Ernie Bridge Ernest Frances "Ernie" Bridge is an Australian politician and country music singer. He was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1980 to 2001, representing the electorate of Kimberley, first as an Australian Labor Party representative and then as an independent MP... , MLA |
Minister for Employment and Training Minister for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Minister assisting the Minister of Education with TAFE |
Gordon Hill, JP, MLA |
Minister for Consumer Affairs Minister for Sport and Recreation |
Graham Edwards Graham Edwards (politician) Graham John Edwards , Australian politician, was an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1998 to 2007, representing the Division of Cowan.... , MLC |
Minister for Lands Minister for the Arts |
Yvonne Henderson, BA, DipEd, JP, MLA |
| Minister for Education Minister for Education (Western Australia) The Minister for Education of Western Australia is the member of the Government of Western Australia responsible for maintenance and improvement of Western Australia's system of education, and is answerable to the Parliament for all actions taken by the Department of Education and Training under... |
Dr Carmen Lawrence Carmen Lawrence Carmen Mary Lawrence is a retired Australian politician; a former Premier of Western Australia and the first woman to become Premier of a State of the Commonwealth of Australia.... , BPsych, PhD, MLA |
- On 7 June 1988, Julian Grill became, in addition to his earlier responsibilities, Minister assisting the Minister for Economic Development and Trade.
- On 4 February 1989, Barry Hodge ceased to be a Member of the Legislative Assembly, having lost the seat of MelvilleElectoral district of MelvilleMelville was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1950 to 1996.The district was based in the southern suburbs of Perth, and in the main roughly corresponds today to the district of Willagee and parts of Alfred Cove.-History:First...
, but continued to hold a position in the Ministry until a caucus meeting was held to reconstitute the Ministry.
Second Ministry
On 28 February 1989, the Governor, Gordon ReidGordon Reid (Governor)
Gordon Stanley Reid AC was an Australian academic who was Governor of Western Australia from 1984 to 1989....
, reconstituted the Ministry. He designated 17 principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to the positions, who served until the Lawrence Ministry
Lawrence Ministry
The Lawrence Ministry was the 31st Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, and was led by Labor Premier Dr Carmen Lawrence and her deputy Ian Taylor. It succeeded the Dowding Ministry on 18 February 1990, following the resignation of Peter Dowding six days earlier following an open letter...
was established on 19 February 1990.
On 12 February 1990, Premier Peter Dowding
Peter Dowding
Peter McCallum Dowding SC was the 24th Premier of Western Australia, serving from 25 February 1988 until his resignation on 12 February 1990 after an internal party dispute....
resigned all of his ministerial portfolios, being replaced in them temporarily by Carmen Lawrence
Carmen Lawrence
Carmen Mary Lawrence is a retired Australian politician; a former Premier of Western Australia and the first woman to become Premier of a State of the Commonwealth of Australia....
, who retained Education and Aboriginal Affairs. Deputy Premier David Parker
David Parker (Australian politician)
David Charles Parker was an Australian politician from Western Australia, serving as a minister in the Burke Ministry , then as Deputy Premier in the Dowding Ministry...
resigned purely as Deputy Premier, retaining the Treasury, Resources Development and the Arts; Ian Taylor
Ian Taylor (Australian politician)
Ian Taylor is a former Australian politician and Western Australian Deputy Premier and Opposition Leader.Taylor was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly in 1981 as the Labor member for Kalgoorlie. In 1986 he was appointed Minister for Health and also held the Aged Care, Lands and...
became Deputy Premier and retained Police and Emergency Services, Conservation and Land Management and Waterways.
The members of the Ministry were:
| Office | Minister |
|---|---|
Premier Premier of Western Australia The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions... Minister for Public Sector Management Minister for Women's Interests |
Peter Dowding Peter Dowding Peter McCallum Dowding SC was the 24th Premier of Western Australia, serving from 25 February 1988 until his resignation on 12 February 1990 after an internal party dispute.... , LL.B. Bachelor of Laws The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree... , MLA |
Deputy Premier Deputy Premier of Western Australia The Deputy Premier of Western Australia is a role in the Government of Western Australia assigned to a responsible Minister in the Australian state of Western Australia. It has second ranking behind the Premier of Western Australia in Cabinet, and its holder serves as Acting Premier during absence... and Treasurer Treasurer of Western Australia The Treasurer of the State of Western Australia is the title held by the Cabinet Minister who is responsible for the management of Western Australia's public sector finances, and for preparing and delivering the annual State Budget... Minister for Economic Development and Trade Minister for the Arts |
David Parker David Parker (Australian politician) David Charles Parker was an Australian politician from Western Australia, serving as a minister in the Burke Ministry , then as Deputy Premier in the Dowding Ministry... , BA Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both... , JP Justice of the Peace A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions... , MLA |
Attorney-General Attorney-General of Western Australia The Attorney-General of Western Australia is the member of the Government of Western Australia responsible for maintenance and improvement of Western Australia's system of law and justice. Before the advent of representative government in 1870, the title was Advocate-General of Western Australia... Minister for Budget Management Minister for Corrective Services Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council |
Joe Berinson Joe Berinson Joseph Max "Joe" Berinson is a former Labor member of the Australian House of Representatives from the 1969 election until his defeat by Ross McLean at the 1975 election, representing the division of Perth, Western Australia... , LL.B., QC Queen's Counsel Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law... , MLC |
Minister for Local Government Minister for Lands Minister for the Family Minister for the Aged Minister assisting the Minister for Women's Interests Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council |
Kay Hallahan Kay Hallahan Elsie Kay Hallahan , commonly known as Kay Hallahan, is an Australian politician. A member of the Labor Party, she served as a minister in the Burke, Dowding and Lawrence ministries in Western Australia, and was the first woman ever to sit in both the Western Australian Legislative Assembly and the... , BSW Social work Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or... , JP, MLC |
Minister for Housing Minister for Planning |
Pam Beggs, JP, MLA |
Minister for Agriculture Minister for Water Resources Minister for the North-West |
Ernie Bridge Ernie Bridge Ernest Frances "Ernie" Bridge is an Australian politician and country music singer. He was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1980 to 2001, representing the electorate of Kimberley, first as an Australian Labor Party representative and then as an independent MP... , MLA |
Minister for Mines Minister for Fuel and Energy Minister for the Mid-West |
Jeff Carr, BA, JP, MLA |
Minister for Racing and Gaming Minister for Sport and Recreation Minister for Youth |
Graeme Edwards, MLC |
Minister for Economic Development and Trade Minister for Tourism |
Julian Grill Julian Grill Julian Fletcher Grill is a former member of the Australian Labor Party and Member of the Parliament of Western Australia as the Member for Eyre.... , LL.B., JP, MLA |
Minister for Consumer Affairs Minister for Works and Services |
Yvonne Henderson, BA, DipEd, JP, MLA |
Minister for Regional Development Minister for Fisheries Minister for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs |
Gordon Hill, JP, MLA |
Minister for Education Minister for Education (Western Australia) The Minister for Education of Western Australia is the member of the Government of Western Australia responsible for maintenance and improvement of Western Australia's system of education, and is answerable to the Parliament for all actions taken by the Department of Education and Training under... Minister for Aboriginal Affairs |
Dr Carmen Lawrence Carmen Lawrence Carmen Mary Lawrence is a retired Australian politician; a former Premier of Western Australia and the first woman to become Premier of a State of the Commonwealth of Australia.... , BPsych, PhD, MLA |
Minister for Transport Minister for the Environment Minister for Parliamentary and Electoral Reform Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly |
Bob Pearce Bob Pearce Robert John Pearce was an Australian politician, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1977 until 1993 representing the seats of Gosnells and Armadale.-Biography:... , BA, DipEd, JP, MLA |
Minister for Community Services Minister for Justice Minister for the South-West |
David Smith, LL.B., JP, MLA |
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Minister for Conservation and Land Management Minister for Waterways |
Ian Taylor Ian Taylor (Australian politician) Ian Taylor is a former Australian politician and Western Australian Deputy Premier and Opposition Leader.Taylor was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly in 1981 as the Labor member for Kalgoorlie. In 1986 he was appointed Minister for Health and also held the Aged Care, Lands and... , B.Econ (Hons), JP, MLA |
Minister for Labour Minister for Employment and Training Minister for Productivity Minister assisting the Minister of Education with TAFE |
Gavan Troy, B Bus, FAIM, JP, MLA |
| Minister for Health | Rev Keith Wilson, MLA |